Obituary of Marie Perriello

Marie Ann Perriello passed away with her family at her bedside on Sunday night, November 8, 2009. She was 77 years old. Marie was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Joseph and Catherine Juliano. She grew up and was educated in Chelsea. She met her husband Alfred and she was married at the age of 21. They settled in Burlington in 1958 to raise their family. Her husband co-owned a bakery with his brother. Marie remained home with her 6 children. She created a warm and loving home, which was filled with the aroma of homemade Italian dishes and laughter. She took great pride in maintaining her home inside as well as outside. She enjoyed gardening and working outside in the yard. Her home was center of many family cookouts and the meeting place for her children and their friends. Marie had many happy years enjoying life’s everyday and special moments with her husband, children, and friends. She enjoyed many years vacationing in Maine and Ocean City NJ with her family. She was a loving and supportive wife. She was a concerned and understanding mother and she was a proud grandmother and great grandmother. What was important in the lives of her children and grandchildren became important to her. She attended countless recitals, birthdays, graduations, sporting events, and other events to show her support and concern for her children and grandchildren. Marie loved many and was loved by many. She will be lovingly remembered. Marie was the beloved wife of the late Alfred A. Perriello. She was the loving mother of Alfred Perriello & his wife Deborah of Burlington, Michael Perriello & his wife Lynn of Somerville, Susan Piantedosi & her husband Steven of Gardner, Cathy Fahey & her husband Jack of Burlington, Joseph Perriello & his wife Kristen of Billerica, and John Perriello of Burlington. She was the sister of Barbara Juliano of Wakefield and the late Vincent Juliano. She was the dear friend of the late Eileen Forbes and Mary Rose Miedico. She was also survived by 15 grandchildren and 2 Great grandchildren. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Marie’s name may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114, www.mass.wish.org Family remembrance by Nicole Piantedosi Hello, my name is Nicole. And as you would assume, I am hear to talk about my Wonderful Grandmother. But first I would like to take a moment on this important day, to personally thank, those who cared for my Grandmother when she needed them the most, her children and their supporting spouses. I would like to say thank you to My Uncles, My Aunts, My Father and my extraordinary Mother. Also I would like to extend a thank you, to my Aunty Barbra who cared for and loved my Grandmother. And I would like to tell you Aunty Barbra, that I admire your relationship with my Grandmother. You have been sisters and pals for decades, you have always stayed close. I have sisters of my own, and I hope my relationship with them, will prove to be as strong; as my Grandmothers and yours. These paths few months all of you, as you always do, you have set an example of the type of people I would like my sisters, cousins and self to be. Thank you all. Now, Grandma, I have some words for you. Grandma you filled my life with the best of things, candy fudge, kisses and sunshine. Whether my sister, cousins and I were building Christmas gingerbread houses, walking the boardwalk, sitting on bleachers at hockey games, waving to you from roller coaster rides, playing with your jewelry, running wild in your backyard, following a string a band (dancing all the way) or just sitting around a kitchen table with you, we could always feel your love radiating.. Your unconditional love nurtured us and helped us grow. But the depth and sweetness of your love; helped us not only grow but bloom. For those of you who knew my Grandmother, you knew how sweet, kind and gentle she was. And you would also know how her manner of sweetness, kindness and gentleness was done in a way that reflected a deeper strength. If you knew my grandmother, you would know that she was never fussed, and was always amused by life’s whims. I remember that one summer, my cousins and sisters had dubbed her “Moo Moo.” They no longer called her Grandma, just “Moo Moo.” I said to her “Why are they calling you Moo Moo?” And she said back to me “I don’t know. But it’s better then oink oink!” In the midst of a large, bustling, and often lovably crazy family, my grandmother was a point of pleasant calm. I remember growing up, that when people in my family would “talk loudly” she would just listen to them and smile appeasingly at them. If possible, she was never involved in madness or an argument. I know, that as her grandchild, people may believe me to be biased, when I describe my Grandmother as sweet and full of unconditional love. But I have proof beyond my bias. My Grandma was kind to friends, she was kind to strangers. Growing up, whenever she would meet a friend of mine for the first time, she would hug and kiss them goodbye. Often to their surprise. And it is not hard for me understand, why for her whole life my Grandma had such devoted friends or why my Papa loved her so. I believe her warm manner, affected all who met her, and to be her grandchild was truly a special treat of a blessing. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that there are few people who are ever able to love completely unconditionally. Rarely is an individual capable of allowing themselves to love so fully. But my Grandma had long mastered this amazing power of selfless love. In the past few months, I have searched my memory;. I tried to think of a time, when she acted for her, and not for me. I have tried to find one example of her scolding me or criticizing me. And to be truly honest with you, the only thing I could think of was if I was doing a poor job at a cracking lobster, she would kindly redirect my efforts. She never yelled; she never fussed. I remember times, when my Grandma would be presented with ample and clear evidence of some misdeed of mine (usually this evidence was provided by my ever patient, ever loving mother), but whenever I would talk to my Grandma about it, expecting a lecture or for her to be disappointed me, she only had encouraging words. Any criticism of me would be like water hitting stone. It would just roll of her. Nothing, really nothing, could shake her solid, indestructible, unyielding opinion that I was wonderful. When really, it was her who was wonderful. My Grandma’s Ocean of unconditional love was not just deep enough for her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but for others in her life as well. My grandma loved everyone, and sometimes everything. When I was little girl, I first met my Uncle’s dog, the dearly cherished Coco. Now, for those of you who have not met Coco, you might judge him by his name and believe him to be a lapdog. You would be wrong. He is a big dog. And I will admit, I was very timid of him growing up. But not my Grandma, my little tiny Grandma loved this massive, fierce-looking, daunting dog! She let him sleep in her bed, and she talked about him like he was a fluffy poodle purse dog. I remember, after Grandma got CoCo thinking that if a fire breathing swamp monster showed up at her house, my dear Grandma would think it was adorable. It just did not matter if you were a stranger, a “misunderstood” puppy or a misbehaving grandchild; if my Grandma could find a reason to smile at you, she would. Grandma, you never asked for anything in return for all this love you gave. Your love was so unconditional and limitless. Grandma you had the most beautiful smile, and whenever you would first see me, you would smile like you were truly happy to see me. Very time, very single time. Grandma I am really going to miss you. I am going to miss lipstick and leopard print. I am going to miss your blouses. I am going to miss you at the beach. But mostly I am going to miss holding your hand and talking to you. Like so many others in this room, I’m searching for a way to hold on to you always. But you did not leave me without a guide. Because the way you lived your life, has provided me a map, of how to live my life and keep you near. In my Grandmother’s life, she loved many who passed before her. Some of these people, such as my Great Grandmother, I never met. And some of these people, such as my Papa and my Aunty Eleni, I wish I knew better. But through her shared memories, I was reintroduced and learned more of them. I learned that my Grandma would sit on the edge of my Great Grandma’s bed and talk to her mother. She told me, that my Great Grandmother was a really good listener. Through conversation with my Grandma, I learned by heart, the stories of her best friend’s adventures and what her personality was like, especially her humor. Years after my Papa died, I slept over my Grandma’s house. And in the morning, when the sun filled the room, I sat on his side of the bed and she told me all about their first date. And how he did not shave and how kind he was. And every Fourth of July, my Grandma would watch the Ocean City fireworks from our porch. She would smile, and tell us kids, that Papa loved the fireworks. Grandma, the way you pasted on stories, the way you smiled at memories, not with much sadness or longing, but with a loving heart, is how I will remember you. And every Fourth of July I meet; when fireworks explode in the sky. I won’t think of you watching the sky, missing Papa. I will instead think of both of you together. And I will watch the fireworks for you. And I hope, you both will be watching me. Grandma you taught me all the important things in life, how to put on blush, how to set my beach chair up, and most importantly, you taught me how to be part of a family. A family, that is timeless and strong. A family that grows together and grieves together. And I thank you Grandma for loving us. And I thank you God, for giving me my Grandma. And although I don’t deserve to ask for anything more, I pray God that you keep her safe and happy. And Grandma, although you have given me so much already, I’m just going to ask for one more gift, I’m going to ask you, to check on us every now and then. Grandma, I want you to know that I love you. That we all love you. And lastly, I want you to know, that if I am lucky enough to live a long a life I have an ambition, a role that surpasses others in meaning, and that is to be just like you one day. A loving Grandmother, whose happiness stems from the happiness of others. And when my Grandchildren, children, nephews and nieces ask me about you, I’m going to them that my Grandma was a beautiful women, who sweetness was incomparable, who loved good food, who loved the shore and who above all loved her grandchildren.